Ezekiel 48:26-35: a reflection

26“By the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun, one portion. 27“By the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad, one portion. 28“By the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, to the brook, to the great sea. 29“This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their several portions, says the Lord GOD. 30“These are the exits of the city: On the north side four thousand five hundred reeds by measure; 31and the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one. 32“At the east side four thousand five hundred reeds, and three gates: even the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one. 33“At the south side four thousand five hundred reeds by measure, and three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one. 34“At the west side four thousand five hundred reeds, with their three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one. 35“It shall be eighteen thousand reeds in circumference; and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The LORD is there.’

The long vision of the restored land and city comes at last to its close, and it ends with a name. After the territory is divided and the gates of the city are described, the vision concludes: And the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there. All the measurements and boundaries lead up to this: the defining reality of the city is the presence of God. The LORD is there, and that is its name, its glory, its everything.

Notice what makes this city what it is: not its size, its walls, its beauty, but the presence of God. The LORD is there, and that presence is the crowning reality, the thing that makes the city truly blessed, truly home. A city without God's presence, however grand, would be empty; but this city's very name declares that God dwells there, and that is its highest glory. The presence of God is the blessing above all blessings.

That points to the deepest hope of God's people: to dwell where God is, in his very presence. The vision looks forward to the day, described at the end of Scripture, when God will dwell with his people, and they will be his people, and he will be their God, the LORD forever there among them. And even now, God dwells with his people by his Spirit. What makes any place or life truly blessed is not its grandeur but the presence of God. Seek above all to dwell where God is, in his presence; make his presence your highest longing and your deepest joy. The greatest blessing is not what we have, but that the LORD is there; long for his presence, and rejoice that in Christ, God dwells with his people, and one day we will dwell fully where the LORD is.

Lord, the long vision of the restored city ends with a name that says everything: the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there. Its defining reality is not its size, walls, or beauty, but your presence; the LORD is there, and that is its glory. Help me see that the presence of God is the blessing above all blessings. A place or life without your presence, however grand, is empty; but where you dwell is truly blessed, truly home. And thank you that this points to the deepest hope of your people: to dwell where you are, in your very presence, fulfilled in the day when you will dwell with your people forever. Even now you dwell with your people by your Spirit. Help me seek above all to dwell where you are, to make your presence my highest longing and deepest joy. The greatest blessing is not what I have, but that you are there; help me long for your presence, and rejoice that in Christ you dwell with your people. Be present with me, Lord.